There is a push by some Christian groups in the United States to rewrite history. They want teachers to tell their students that the Founders didn’t really mean it when they said that there was a wall that separated Church from State. In this video, Dr. Anth cites the Founders themselves to make clear that the Founders built a solid wall between Church and State.
Tag Archives: religion
A Call to Action
Just as I finished President Carter’s new book, A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power, I heard the news about the killing rampage in Isla Vista, CA. Here was a perfect example of what President Carter described: a man who used power and violence to punish women.
While religion has not yet been mentioned as an explanation for the killer’s rampage, attitudes in the US have been shaped by religious ideologies that value men over women. This over-valuing of men permeates all aspects of our culture. Many laws in the US control women in ways that clearly indicate that the law-makers do not view women as adults equal to men. When misogyny is rampant, violence against women is the result.
President Carter is a member of The Elders, a group of ‘independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights.’ One major focus of The Elders is on achieving equality for women and girls. The Carter Center, founded by President Carter and Rosalynn Carter, lists 23 action steps that ‘can help blaze the road to progress’ and end misogyny.
Tony Porter called to men to get out of the Man Box. 
The way we socialize men creates violence against women. It is up to men to challenge and change male culture. It is up to men to end violence against women. It is up to men, the many men who truly care about women, to end misogyny. Let us heed President Carter’s and Tony Porter’s Calls to Action and end misogyny now.
Contraception is a Key Women’s Right
I find it amazing and deeply disturbing that in the 21st century state legislatures in the United States are being inundated with bills (many of which have passed and been signed into law) that seek to restrict a woman’s right to control her own body and well-being. Without these rights, women will find it very difficult to partake fully in politics and in the economy. Perhaps that is exactly the goal of this type of legislation: to drive women back into the home where they are trapped by unwanted pregnancy and under the control of their spouse.
We know that the best way for women and children to escape poverty is for the women to have control of their reproduction. Being able to decide if and when she has children provides a woman with the opportunity for education, which allows her to find better-paying work. Wherever women have control of their reproduction, the birth rate has declined and economic well-being has improved. Why would legislatures in the United States wish to reverse this trend? The only reason I can think of is fear. Fear that women will gain too much power. Fear that men (particularly white men), will have less of a say in the future. Fear that they will lose control. Fear is repressive and destructive.
As a counterpoint to fear, Melinda Gates gave a great TED talk this month about the need for contraception. Granted, her talk primarily dealt with women in developing nations. But it is clear that what she says also relates to the current political climate in the United States. It will be quite ironic if NGOs such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are able to bring reproductive freedom to women in other nations while here in the United States those same freedoms are being whittled away.
Facts and Evidence Don’t Matter
If you operate in an evidence-based world, the title of this post probably annoys/angers you. As well it should. Unfortunately, for increasing numbers of people, belief is more important than evidence. In fact, evidence contrary to their beliefs may make them fight harder than ever to hold on to their beliefs.
Some news items from the believers point of view:
1] Jerry Sandusky [or fill in blank with whichever child predator is in the news] cannot possibly be a child predator because he loves children and created a charity for children. Providing these believers with the facts and evidence of ‘grooming‘ just makes the believers angrier and more defensive of Sandusky [or whomever]. Vilification of the accusers occurs rather than analyzing the evidence.
2] How dare the state of Kentucky expect high school students to be taught and tested on evolution when it conflicts with the beliefs of Ricky Line, Superintendent of Hart County Board of Education! (Education?) “Stop requiring our teachers to teach, as fact, an evolution that would convince our children that they evolved from lower life forms and, therefore, have reason to discount the Bible and the faith beliefs that follow. This is not an improvement in our public education system.” [Written to Kentucky Commissioner of Education Terry Holiday on 11/21/2011.] Commissioner Holiday replied with a very well-reasoned statement of facts and evidence. I doubt it convinced Superintendent Line. Line’s beliefs will always trump facts and evidence.
3] The Florida Family Association, a Christian group, is crusading against TLC’s program All-American Muslim because ‘TLC’s “All-American Muslim” is propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda.’ They are haranguing the show’s advertisers in an attempt to have TLC drop the show because it does not sufficiently cover the jihadist point of view. “The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.” How dare TLC show ordinary Muslims!
Clearly, the FFA crusade is ridiculous. And yet, Lowe’s succumbed. “Lowe’s has received a significant amount of communication on this program, from every perspective possible. Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lighting rod for many of those views. As a result we did pull our advertising on this program. We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance.” So, Lowe’s, will you cease all advertising if enough people complain about the shows on which you advertise? Or do you just pick and choose based on belief systems rather than evidence and facts?
4] Only those who believe in God (or a god) are trustworthy. Atheists are less trustworthy (more evil?) than rapists; and atheists are despised more than are gays. This is according to recently-published research by Gervais et al. who conducted six different studies in order to clarify why those who are religious have problems with those who are atheists. The researchers concluded it came down to trust. Religious individuals simply cannot trust someone who doesn’t believe in a god because they hold the view that a belief in god provides the glue that holds society together. However, Gervais et al. point out that “the least religious countries are actually among the most cooperative and peaceful on the planet.” Belief that atheists are bad and untrustworthy trumps the facts and evidence that if we want a peaceful, cooperative society we would be better off with fewer individuals who are religious [See #3 above.] and more who are atheist.
One would hope that education would help eradicate erroneous beliefs. But if facts and evidence just make believers fight harder, education probably will not work. Then how can we solve this problem? I’d like to read your ideas on this.
Meanwhile, have a great holiday season in which we work to increase cooperation and peace in our society.